Ventilating apparatus



April 8, 1952 Filed Aug. 25, 1946 E. F. OCONNELL VENTILATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

I A I arrwmn April 8, 1952 E. F. OCONNELL 2,592,174

VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23, 1946 4 Sheetsr-Sheet s INVENTOR.

Edmund fi'aa z ze ll April 1952 E. F. OCONNELL 2,592,174

VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

circulation.

Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENTILATING APPARATUS Edmund F. OConnell, Westmoreland Hills, Md.

Application August 23, 1946, Serial No. 692,652

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to ventilating devices for homes, apartment houses, hotels, office buildings and the like and, more particularly, to ventilating apparatus adapted to forcefully remove heated, stale air from the building and to cause fresh outdoor air to take the place of the same.

Exhaust fans have, in recent years, become quite popular and have been widely used. Such fans serve the useful purpose of forcefully expelling highly heated air from the upper stories or attic spaces in buildings, and thereby materially reduce the temperatur in the living space in the buildings, particularly on the upper stories. Also, such fans create a circulation of air throughout the entire building and effectively eliminate smoke, dust, odors and the like.

The installation of such exhaust fans, however, has heretofore presented a serious problem, both from the point of view of expense and appearance. When fans are mounted directly in window openings, they constitute an unsightly spectacle, eliminate a large proportion of the light which normally enters the window, and

interfere with or displace the usual forms of window decoration such as shades, Venetian blinds, curtains, drapes, etc. Moreover, in order to protect the fans from the weather and to prevent rain from being driven inwardly through the window and the fan, louvers are often employed, which close automatically when the fan is not operating and which are opened automatically by the current of air from the fan. However, these louver constructions set up resistance, thereby decreasing the airflow, particularly on slow speed, quiet operating fans, are expensive and create objectionable noise when the fan is in operation. Moreover, when closed, the louvers eliminate substantially all light and normal air In other constructions, special hoods and cupolas are provided on the roof of the building or in association with one of the side walls. Constructions of this type, however, require major alterations in the building, are expensive and present an unattractive appearance.

The primary object of the present invention is to eliminate all of the objections which have been encountered in the past in connection with conventional air circulating fan installations.

A primary object of the invention is to provide means for mounting an air circulating fan which requires not the slightest modification to the construction of the building.

A further object is to provide a fan mounting structure in which the fan and fan motor are substantially invisible and inaccessible to persons within the room.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ventilating apparatus for installation at a window opening, the housing for which by its characteristic shape and location provides all of the advantages of the conventional awning.

Another object is to provide a mounting for the fan which completely protects the same from the weather, yet does not involve the use of louvers or the like, but still protects the interior of the building from the entrance of rain, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ventilating apparatus, positioned entirely outside of the building, where it is completely out of the way, and where it will not interfere with the usual interior decorations, such as curtains, draperies, etc. Further, the invention aims to provide an apparatus of thischaracter which will not interfere in any way with the normal operation of the window sashes and window screens.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ventilating apparatus, positioned on the exterior of the building which enhances the appearance of the building instead of detracting therefrom, as has been the case in the past.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind which can be installed and assembled, piece by piece, on the outside of the building by an operator positioned on the inside, by access through the window opening, exclusively.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ventilating apparatus which is adjustable in size so that it may be accommodated to windows of widely differing sizes.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description of the specific embodiments of the invention shown for purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings.

'In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, with certain parts broken away, showing one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section, on line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is an outside end elevation.

Figure 4 is a section on an enlarged scale through the outer lower corner of the hood, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a similar sectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the bottom plate of the hood.

Figure 7 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 8 is a vertical section through the bottom plate of Figure 6, with an extension plate added.

Figure 9 is a similar view with the extension plate omitted.

Figure'10is a vertical'section', similar to Figure 2, but showing a second modification.

Figure 11 is an outside end elevation thereof, and

Figure 12 is a section, on an enlarged scale on line l2--l2 of Figure 11.

As will be observed from. the drawings, the ventilating apparatus gives the general appearance of a conventional awning, yet it has, incur-- porated therein, a fan for the positive circulation of: air. The awning or hood is preferably made of sheet metal or metal and transparent material, such as safety-glass or a transparent synthetic resin; e. g. methyl methacrylate, such as Plexiglas or Lucitei Inthe embodiment shown in Figures. 1-9, the awning or hood structurecomprises triangularly shaped, sheetmetal side-plates l0 and II having their inner vertical edges l2: secured directly to theinner side'faces I3: and M- of" the. window framingor trim boards [5, l6, by screws H1 or the like; passing through holes: l8, preformed therein-.: The upper. and! lower. edges; of the side plates; I: and- H: are flanges inwardly at H! (Fig. 5): and. (Figs. 8: and 9). The latter flanges serverassupporting ledges for the bottom plate. member 22', hereinafter described. Adjacent to their lower edges, the side plates I0 and I1 carry short, depending scalloped skirts 23, 24, preferably welded thereto, and giving the appearance-of the scalloped valance'conventionally employed: with canvas awnings. If desired, the skirts may be made of canvas, appropriately secured in place, but for the sake of permanency, sheetm'etal strips are preferred.

The'upper, outer surfaceof the hood may be madeup of'a pair of overlapping plates or panels 25;v 26; having downturned side flanges 21-, 28 overlapping-'the'upper edges of the side plates IOT and; Hand providing a weather-tight. joint. The panels are secured in place by threaded-studs 29'; welded. to their undersurfaces, extending through vertically elongated: slots 29 formed: in the flanges I!) of the side plates l0 and H', and having wing nuts'30 screwed thereon, adapted to be? applied from inside. of. the hood; Thus, access to the outer surface-of. the hood is not necessary when the device is. being. installed. Theplates 25, 26, atthein upper. edges are secured to .thehorizontal undersurface of the upper trim board.3l. of the. window casing. by screws -32,,extending. through preformed openings therein.

One of the upper plates, such as the one shown at25 (Fig: 5) is provided with an inwardly bent, stepped shoulder 35 and a lateral portion 36, displaced inwardly from the outer" portion a distancesubstantia'lly equal to the thickness of" the metal;- which" maybe standard, fir-gauge sheet steel. This lateral portion is provided withap'lurality of parallel slots 3l-, registering with studs 39 spot welded to the underside of theother plate member 26'. Wing nuts 4n arezthreadediover the studs 39; thus providing-"aslidable connection, so that: the hood may" be extendedz or. contracted laterally for? adjustment purposes: to accommo- 4 date windows of different widths, and then firmly secured in the adjusted position.

Adjacent to the lower forward edges of the panels 25, 26, short angle strips or clips 4| are provided, the upper flanges of which are welded to the undersurface of the plates, to become a permanent part thereof and the lower flanges of which overlie the outer margins of the bottom plate 22. Studs 42, welded to the upperside of the. bottom plate? 22 extend? through registering openings'43'in'the' lowerfl'ange'of the clip 4| and receive wing nuts 44, to secure the parts together.

Scalloped skirts 45, 46, preferably welded to thevlower edges of the plates 25, 26, have the central portions which overlap, in the same manneras the plates 25', 26, to facilitate lateral adjustment of the parts.

The bottom plate 22 (Fig. 9) is provided with a plurality of threaded studs 41 along its side margins registering with and extending through elongated openings-48 in the inturned flanges 20. Wingnuts 49 applied to studs 41 securely hold the bottom. plate in. position- Along the inner edge'of the plate 22 there is a flexible strip, ofcanvas, felt, rubber or the like adapted to make sealing contact with a window pane 5| and held in place by a clamping bar 52, or suitable screws: or rivets.

The bottom platehas a large central opening 53, marginally bounded by a downturned collar or shroud- 54,. preferably made integrally with therplateeand spun.or formed to shape. A plurality of:upstanding;posts 55, welded. to the plate serve-as positioning means for. the ends of the arms- 56 of a: motor. supporting ringv 51, inwhich the-fantmotor 58 is supported, and held in lace by cooperating lugs 59; The fan' blades 60 are thus? mounted for rotation coaxially within the opening 53, in concentric relation with respect thereto.

The bottom plate 22 carries a control and junction: box 65in which two receptacles are positioned and electrically connected. One is adapted to receive the female plug 61 connected by a=cord 68 toa source of house current, and the other, a; male plug 69, connected by a cord 10 to the'motor: 58. Thus; when the plug 61 is withdrawn, no electrical contact elements will be exposedv andthe possibility of the user being shocked" when handling'the pl'ug'is avoided. A single or two speedswitch may also be provided in the box: to control the current to' the motor.

From the foregoing description, it will be ap parentithatthe entire apparatus may be readily assembled and installed on the job, by a. workman. standing inside of the: building and using onlythe -simplest kind of tools. First, the side plates I 0 and H are individually fastened in place; by'tlie' screws I-T, exten'ding'through the preformed holes l8, into the trim around the window opening'and' constituting a part'of conventional' window casings;

The two top plates 25, 26, are adjusted so that thedistance between their lateral, downturned flanges 2T and 28-substantlall'y equals the space between the upper edges of'the side panels In and H. When so adjusted; the=wingnuts 40 are lightly tightened to'hold the parts temporarily in adjusted position; The assembly'so provided is then passed 'through the window and the flanges 2T, 28 positioned in overlapping relation to the upper edges of the side plates HI and II. To facilitate this manipulation, the undersurfaces of the plates 25, 26, may" be provided with handles. '25, 26'. By. an upward. and inward sliding movement, the upper edges of the panels are brought into registry with the lower surface of the upper horizontal trim board 3|. The wing nuts 40 may be loosened, to effect final adjustment of the plates 25, 26, and to bring the flanges 21 and 28 firmly into contact with-the side plates. The wood screws 32 and the plurality of wing nuts 30 may now be attached to secure the top members in place and the wing nuts 4|] which have been previously lightly secured are finally tightened.

If desired, the plates 25 and 26 may be installed separately; first the plate 25 and then the plate 26, to be followed by the attaching of the plurality of wing nuts 40 to secure the parts in final position.

The bottom plate 22, with the fan and its supports removed, may be readily passed through the window and supported upon the inturned flanges 20 at the lower edges of the plates Ill and II. Its outer edge underlies the angle clips 4| and is secured thereto by the wing nuts 44, threaded on the studs 42 spot welded to the upper side of the plate 22 and inserted through registering openings 43 in the clips 4|. The plate is permanently secured in position by wing nuts 49, threaded on the studs 41 extending through the openings 48.

If the width of the window substantially exceeds the maximum for which the awning structure or hood is built, so that the bottom plate 22 does not extend from one supporting flange 20 to the other, an extension plate N (Fig. 8) may be employed. This plate preferably has an offset marginal portion 12 which may be attached by means of the studs 41, spot welded to the underside of the bottom plate 22 and extending through registering openings in the extension plate 1| and secured by wing nuts 49 applied to the studs 41. The assembled bottom plate 22 and extension plate II is attached 'to the inturned flange 20 at the lower edge of the plates Ill by means of studs 13 spot welded to the underside of the extension plate 1|, the studs extending through-the slots 48 in the inturned flan e Wing nuts 14 applied to the studs secure the assembly to the flange 20.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 10-12 is generally similar to that just described, except that, instead of using imperforate metal panels for the side and top of the hood or awning struc-' ture, transparent panels are mounted in appropriate frames, so as to avoid any substantial obstruction to the passage of light into the building. As shown in Figure 10, each side member has a large triangular opening formed therein, in which there is mounted a transparent sheet 15. Similarly, the upper, outer member has a large opening'for another panel of transparent material 16. The frames for the transparent panels are preferably formed of steel as previously described, and carry depending, scalloped skirts, as in the first form of the invention. The bottom plate 22 and the associated parts may, likewise, be identical to those in the first form.

Referring to Figure 12, the outer, upper frame ll for the transparent panel 15 has downturned marginal flanges I8, 19, overlapping the upper edges of the "side frames 80, 8|, the upper edges of which are preferably inwardly flanged as at 82, 83, to strengthen the construction. Studs 84 spot welded to the underside of the upper frame 11 extend through registering openings and wing nuts 85 are applied to the studs as previously described.

The transparent panel 16 is held in place by shouldered framing strips 86 on the inner surfaces of the plates. The strips 86 are held in place by wing nuts 88 attached to studs 81, spot welded to the underside of the frame H, the studs extending through registering holes in the shouldered strips 86. The edges of the transparent panel 16 is thus embraced by the framing strips, and a sealing gasket 89 of compressible material may be employed for weatherprooflng purposes. The framing strips are preferably welded at their corners, as at 90.

The triangular, transparent side panels 15 are preferably held in place by similar shouldered framing strips 86'. The vertical and inclined strips preferably are welded permanently in position upon the inner surfaces of the side members 80, 8|, while the lower, horizontal framing strips 85 are secured in position by wing nuts 9| threaded upon studs 92 spot welded to the inner faces of the side panels 80, 8|, as previously described. The transparent, side panels l5 may be readily removed by removing the lower framing strips 86, and dropping the panels downwardly. Their angular shape will make the panels clear the framing strips 85', welded in fixed position, so that they may be shifted laterally for removal.

Thus, the all transparent panels may be readily removed, from time to time, for cleaning purposes, by simply removing the wing nuts 88 and 9|, all of which are accessible from the inside. The panels may then be passed inwardly through the window opening, where they may be cleaned conveniently, and replaced with similar facility.

In the construction shown in Figs. l0, l1 and 12, transparent panels are employed in the sides and top of the awning structure. It is to be understood, of course, that the imperforate, sheet metal side members I0 and shown in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-9 may be employed with the outer frame member 11 carrying the transparent panel 16, and vice verse, that is, the outer, imperforate, adjustable panels 25, 26 may be used with the side members 80, 8|, carrying the triangular, transparent panels 15.

It is to be understood that, in operation, the upper half of the window will be lowered to the desired extent, with the flexible sealing strip 50 in contact with the window pane or, in some cases, with the upper frame of the sash. By raising and lowering the upper sash, more or less, an effective control of the amount of air displaced by the fan is accomplished.

The fan normally serves to draw the air in the room outwardly through the window and to project the same downwardly, thus acting as an efficient exhaust fan. If desired, of course, the direction of rotation of the fan may be reversed so that the air is drawn upwardly into the awning structure and forced inwardly through the upper half of the window opening into the room. Moreover, where a plurality of ventilator structures' in accordance with the present invention are employed, one or more may act as intake fans, blowing air into the building and others may act as exhaust fans, thereby producing an eminently satisfactory cross ventilation efiect.

It should be noted that the ventilating equipment in accordance with the present invention does not in any way interfere with the normal window operation, nor with the usual window screens, conventionally mounted just inside or outside of the window sashes. Thus, the possientering the building through the fan opening,

which is a serious problem in connection with some exhaust fan installations, is entirely eliminated.

Moreover, since the fan is entirely outside of the building and is protected by the normal Window screens, there is no possibility of persons, particularly children, being injured by coming in contact with the rapidly rotating blades. Further, the fan is protected from misuse from the inside of the building.

Although the invention has been described with considerable particularity by reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction shown and described, but covers all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

I claim: v

1. A ventilating apparatus for use with the frame of a window opening, comprising an awning structure and a motor driven fan associated therewith, said structure comprising spaced, vertically disposed side plates removably secured at their inner vertical edges directly to the vertical inner faces of the window frame, said plates having downwardly and outwardly sloping outer edges and horizontal bottom edges provided with inwardly projecting flanges, a centrally apertured bottom plate supported by said bottom flanges of the side plates and removably secured thereto, and a pair of top plates supported upon and removably secured to the downwardly and outwardly sloping outer edges of the side plates and projecting laterally therefrom in overlapping relation to permit lateral adjustment of the side plates to accommodate window openings of difierent sizes, means for securing the overlapping portions of the top plates in adjusted relation, means for removably securing said top plates adjacent their lower edges to the outer edge of said bottom plate, and means carried exclusively by said bottom plate for supporting'the motor driven fan in concentric relation to the aperture therein.

2. A ventilating apparatus for use with the frame of a window opening, comprising an awning, structure and a motor driven fan associated therewith, said structure comprising spaced, vertically disposed sideplates removably secured at their inner vertical edges directly to the vertical inner faces of the window frame, said plates having downwardly and outwardly sloping outer edges provided with inturned flanges and horizontal bottom edges provided with inwardly projecting flanges, a centrally apertured bottom plate supported by said bottom flanges of the side plates and removably secured thereto, and a pair of top plates supported upon and removably secured to the inturned flanges of the downwardly and outwardly sloping outer edges of the side plates and projecting laterally therefrom in overlapping relation to permit lateral adjustment of the side plates to accommodate window openings of different sizes, means for securing the overlapping portions of the top plates in adjusted relation, means for removably securing said top plates adjacent their lower edges to the outer edge of said bottom plate, and means carried exclusively by said bottom plate for supporting the motor driven fan in concentric relation to the aperture therein.

EDMUND F. OCONNELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file,of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 798,756 Voorhees Sept. 5, 1905 878,284 Frantz Feb. 4, 1908 1,125,805 Brock Jan. 19, 1915 1,244,334 Ilg Oct. 23, 1917 40 1,726,072 Johnson Aug. 27, 1929 1,752,372 Bothezat Apr. 1, 1930 1,971,356 Shurtleff Aug. 28, 1934 2,021,684 Faber Nov. 19, 1935 2,154,410 Polk Apr. 11, 1939 2,247,276 Chase June 24, 1941 2,295,451 Davis, Jr., et a1. Sept. 8, 1942 2,383,639 Ferguson Aug. 28, 1945 

